The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-25

Some time ago the House of Bishops
Of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the
United States expressed. n desire for
Christian communion, and to effect il
were ready 10 yield almost everything but
the dogma Of apostolic succession. They
proposed the formation Of new church
organization by the coalcscing OF existing
Protestant denominations "by the adop-
ton Of certain essential principles, allow
ing outside Of them the fullest liberty in
all present beliefs and practices, ms well as
In any new ones which may bo devised. :"
The essential principles are (l) the
acceptance Of the Holy Scriptures Of the
Old aud New Tcsiamcnts rs the revealed
Word OF God; (2) tho accept
ancc Of the Niccno creed M
sufficient statement OF the Christian
faith; (3) the use only OF two
sacnmcnts, baptism and the Lords
supper, minisicrcd with uniaiing usc Of
Chris,'s words VI institution, and Of the
elements ordained by him; % the accept.
anco Of the historic cpiscopatc. locally
adopted in the methods Of lis adminislra.
ton 10 the varying needs Of tho nations
and the peoples called Of God into the
unity Of the church. This proposition Of
union has been widely disseminated, and
rs widely discussed by writers Of every
shade Of belief aud non-bclici, but per.
haps the ablcst paper on the subject Is
that Of George woolscy Hodge, in the
current number OF the Princeton Review.
Discussing il from the Presbyterian stand.
point, lac secs mn reason Why ~ frank aud
liberal an overture Tor union should not
be accepted. lie cannot see why, there.
fore, griat principles may not he lived
mp TO by those Who differ "in their
theology from the sinctcsi Calyinism to
the broadcast latitudinaHanism. and in
their practices from the hollcst Quackcr-
Ism to the most advanced Ritualism -
he cannot see why these should not
dwell together in thc same communion,
III together in the same assemblies, and
work together in harmony" For the sake
81 the peace the love and charity which
such union would imply be- docs not
see why christians canno, combine, and
sink their differences. In united action "a
uphold the cardinal principle of tho faith
They would be- FREE In faith aud practice
in things Indifferent or non essential 4,
The union, and thus, without cost or slri
iicc 81 amy principle, with only the con
cc,ion OF prrli'ical superintendent
would secure the oycrwhclmingpoNcr thai
o. solid imH b.ior, u,o world would ~
ur a. Doe editor q the Review doe
90, agro with AIr lIodgc, who gocs 20 IN
o. 10 Say that the minister, oi IN the non
Episcopal denomination. should be- wiliu.
20 accept w-orlination NJ the hand, oi th,
bi.hoI- n the united church The cdiio
= ulink. f'lt ~ the gains we've greater than
they ap likely 10 BE- Il would still b,
necessary b. take a note II los.rs, and the,
would bo very considerable" Dcnomina
tionalism has bocu valuable quantity Il
the past, and l. tobc u the future. "Itb
/, not light thing 90 Throw away" aud IN,
4 editor clinchiny his view Of opposition
asks "Do the Christians lprotcs,anil q
America believe ID b. their boundcn dut,
tos,ckthcraliation Of the corporate unit,
Of the church, and that Ia pcrpciuatin.
u the existing denominations they arr com
b uniting SIM We venture 10 say tina
+. they DO not And he adds 1T isamis
N take TO seek The unity II the body In I'M
h. bond Of prclacy, instead oi the unity Of IN
spirit In the bond Of peace" And set
while thus the question il treated by IN
y Protestant Christians Of the United State.
y the new made Christians Of japan are TAX
NJ ing practical steps toward H. consuming
H. ton. Mr. Thcodosius Tying, in papC
3. on mission Work In japan, In the cul
III rent number Of the Church Review, stat,
lr that the native Christians Of that country
" rising superior 10 the divisions among th